The church “universal” is composed of all members of the church of Christ from all over the world, United States, Africa, In and etc.. It is impossible for an eldership to oversee every Christian in the world. Therefore, God designed the local congregation. The local congregation consists of members of the church who live in a certain location. This local church is a microcosm of the universal church. When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he described them with these words: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Cor. 12:27). Notice he called the local church “the body of Christ.”
The local congregations of God’s people are autonomous, that is, self-governing. There is no conference or association that oversees all of the local churches. A governing body that stands between the local church and the universal church is not authorized in God’s Word. There is wisdom in the autonomous nature of the local church. Why? If one church turns from the truth, only that church is impacted by the apostasy and its shepherds are responsible.
As Christians we seek out a congregation with which to work and worship, and thus commit to be under the oversight of the local leadership,
Acts 20:28-NKJV-28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
This is commonly called "placing membership, some would say finding my church home… so one needs to be cautious and wise, making sure the church and its leadership are sound in the faith.
1 John 4:1-NKJV- 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Several passages indicate that Christians must commit to the work and worship of a local congregation: Christians are commanded not to forsake assembling with the local church congregation.
Hebrews 10:25-26-NKJV
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Among other things, they are to partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week as we gather with our fellow members in one place Acts 2:42-NKJV-42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Christians need to recognize that elders of a local congregation will have to give an account to God on the Day of Judgment on the way they handled themselves in guiding the flock.
Hebrews 13:17-NKJV- 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
How can Elders guide the flock unless they know who is in the flock? Since qualified men are commanded to oversee their flock; then it follows that the flock are commanded to be overseen and held accountable, including working and worshipping with their local congregation. The Elders also need to question new members so that no false doctrine is introduced into their midst that would tear up the flock, err on the side of caution and love. Is that not what Paul did?
Romans 16:1-2-NKJV-Sister Phoebe Commended- 16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Paul was introducing Phobe as a servant, of the church at Cenchrea about 6 miles from Corinth to the church at Rome. (Two different church congregations)
Paul did the same thing again:
Romans 16:3-5-NKJV-Greeting Roman Saints
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
These were what we would call letters of recommendation Paul was giving and yes this is necessary! Why? - You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
Matthew 7:15-NKJV
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
I did this as an Elder at Eagle Way, a church called and asked about a former brother in Christ who left Hopkinsville, He divorced his wife here and married his girlfriend and moved away. The church called and asked and I told!
That was their duty to check and mine to be honest! With all the "church hopping", it would be wise for congregations to use “letters of recommendation" from other sound churches or faithful Christians before they fully accept the membership of another unless they are known by their fruit.
2 Corinthians 3:1:-NKJV
3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
If someone says, "You shouldn't judge Christians" all you have to do is have them read, Matt 7:15 and
1 Corinthians 5:12-13-NKJV
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Paul (Saul) is a good example of a sinner who became a Christian and immediately was trying to join himself to the disciples in Jerusalem. The disciples there were hesitant because they knew about his persecutions and murders and was rightly skeptical of whether or not he was a true convert or a schemer. Paul did not waste any time desiring to be with the family of God in his local area.
Acts 9:20-31-NKJV-20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. 26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. 31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied
There are certain obligations on the part of both the elders and the congregation in order for the church to function correctly. Each Christian needs to do its part in edifying the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-16-NKJV- 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
How can Christians edify the body over time unless they choose to place membership, or become part of a family, in that local body? There are certain duties and obligations laid upon Christians that would need to be fulfilled by placing membership or calling a congregation their home church. A Christian would want to place membership so that he/she can do his/her share in the edification of the body of Christ by stirring up love and good works among the brethren. They can help with evangelism, teaching, and benevolence.
1 Peter 5:1-2-NKJV-Shepherd the Flock
5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
Please consider a few reasons why it is both scripturally permissible and scripturally necessary to place membership with a faithful church of Christ.
In the New Testament, each first-century Christian is understood to be a member of a particular congregation. The New Testament does speak of the universal church of Christ, into which the Lord adds the saved when they are baptized.
Acts 2:47-NKJV
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
However, far and away, the New Testament most often uses “church” to refer to the local congregation.
Acts 20:17-NKJV-The Ephesian Elders Exhorted
17 From (my lee tus) Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church
Romans 16:1-NKJV-Sister Phoebe Commended
16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Paul wrote to the “saints which are at Ephesus”.
Ephesians 1:1-NKJV
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Here it is expressed that he wrote to “saints,” or Christians –they were saints who were members of the local church at Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 1:2-NKJV
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Thessalonians 1:1-NKJV
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Each Christian Is to function in the Church, and members are responsible to function within the body.
Romans 12:5-NKJV
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Ephesians 4:16-NKJV
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The body functions within each local congregation. There is no larger organizational structure of the church. A Christian should find a church home and contribute to it. Because
Each Christian Is to Submit to the Elders
Christians have the responsibility to submit to local leadership, while each eldership has the responsibility to oversee only the flock they are among.
Hebrews 13:17-NKJV-17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Why is God’s plan for the local church to have Elders and Deacons? If one never submits to an eldership, he hinders the elders from performing their responsibility to oversee the flock.
After Saul was converted and returned to Jerusalem, he knew he had to identify himself with the congregation there. This is why “he assayed (attempted) to join himself to the disciples” there (Acts 9:26). There is no difference between this and what is sometimes called “placing membership.” If Paul saw the need to identify himself with a faithful congregation where he was living, why would we not have the same need?
If one lives in an area where there are no faithful congregations, placing membership, or finding a church family is obviously not an option. In such instances, one should again do what the first century Christians did, and establish congregations in those areas. Placing membership is both scripturally permissible and scripturally necessary.
As your elders, we think there is a need to talk about “placing membership” or as some would say have a church home! I want to be clear we are not talking about placing membership in the universal church but in a local congregation. God adds the saved to the church. Every Christian is a member of the one body of Christ, the universal church. However, the church is clearly made up of many different local churches of Christ all over this county and city and throughout the world, some are teaching error. Placing membership is seeking to join the family of a local church.
